As of this morning, police sources have confirmed to me that someone has come forward to claim the American flag that was found on Central Avenue.

While no additional information is being released regarding the circumstances of how the American flag ended up in the middle of the interstate or to whom it belonged, we do know this: Tom Jarrett, while driving down Central Avenue in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, noticed a tri-folded American flag in the middle of the interstate.

Knowing the importance of this flag, he pulled over, crossed the highway, and retrieved it. After returning to his vehicle, he removed the debris and found that though its display case was broken and the glass was shattered, amazingly, the flag was unharmed.

 Central Avenue (Courtesy of PGPD YouTube)

Since there were no identifying marks, Jarrett was unable to determine to whom this treasured award for a career of military service belonged. He said, “My thoughts were someone that earned that flag, needed to have that flag back.”

In hopes of finding the rightful owner, Jarrett turned the flag over to the Prince George Police Department. In a short ceremony, Police Corporal Christopher Basabilbaso, a Marine veteran, thanked Jarrett by saying, “On behalf of Prince George’s County, we greatly appreciate this, thank you very much, sir, for your patriotic duty to honor the flag as it is, thank you very much.”

Later he said that it meant a lot that Jarrett took the time and effort to turn in the flag.

As part of the ceremony, the flag was refolded with the traditional 13 folds, each fold having significance. When the flag is completely folded, the stars uppermost, the significance is to remind us of our national motto, “In God We Trust.”

Corporal Basabilbaso thanks Tom Jarrett (Courtesy of PGPD YouTube)

What is the importance of finding the owner of this flag? For an in-the-line-of-duty death, an American flag is draped on the service member’s coffin, then folded into the triangle and presented to the family of the fallen soldier. It is also presented upon the retirement of an active-duty military member as an award for their service to our country. Its symbolism is the pride of a career or life that has been sacrificed for our country.

As Corporal Basabilbaso said, “We fight for this flag, this is our flag, this is our country, this is our flag, and we’re willing to die for this flag.”

We will continue to follow this story and update you as it progresses.